Having you by my side makes today perfect - Happy 10th birthday to Splatoon

Hello whoever might be out there,

Splatoon is the greatest video game franchise to ever exist and my stubborn self refuses to believe otherwise. The games have heart and soul. A story with meaning. Passion and care woven throughout every frame.

I don't have enough words to express how much I love this game.

My Splatoon obsession spawned like many people's did, during lockdown. I hate to cast everyone's minds back to that time, but for me it was a time of pure bliss. Animal crossing, Splatoon, Mario Kart: The almighty trio which still occupy most of my brain five years on.

I didn't actually get my hands on a copy of Splatoon 2 until early 2021, using my birthday money. I had missed the first games era entirely due to well... being a child, so I was trying to make up for lost time. Yes I had missed all of the best bits of Splatoon 2, but I could not care less, because I was finally where I belong. Inkopolis Square.

I played turf war non-stop for those first few days, although I never actually finished the story mode. I still haven't. The level on Moray Towers with the Octoling soldiers terrified me so much and I don't really know why. I was a sploosh main and I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.

The most ironic thing?

Splatoon 3 was teased less than a week later.

I was over the moon, but as a child who had just spent £50, I was understandably upset. Because I didn't know the beauty of what was to come.

Splatoon 2 was amazing; Off The Hook, Octo Expansion, Salmon Run, Flo, Mem cakes, Agent 8, did I mention Octo Expansion?

Splatoon 3 was so much more. Being there from the very start on launch day was beautiful. I have never felt so accepted in my entire life. Silly squids and octopuses changed my life. 2022 was a rough year personally, but Splatoon made it so much better.

It was a tossup for which line to put into the title. I had two options but ultimately went for the one that is canon. A beautiful line sung in the Grandfest song Three Wishes by Pearl and Marina. A line I could easily say to so many things in my life, but the origin material is the truest of them all. This game, these characters, this community, have all guided me through my teenage years. Something reliable that will always be there for me to come back to when I need it.

I have changed a lot since that first day of my Splatoon journey. I'm a Splatling main now for starters. I'm more confident in what I like and what I don't. I have felt encouraged to continue my writing journey. A soppy list of things that are definitely cringe worthy, but the truth nevertheless.

A birthday is a time of celebration. To recognise how the world is a better place with them in it, and for Splatoon, this is a task that would take so much more than the one day allocated to it.

May 28th 2015 was the day Splatoon for the Wii U was released. The day a star was born.

I may not have been conscious enough to appreciate it then, but I sure do appreciate it now.

Having Splatoon by my side makes today perfect. And I hope it continues to do just that. Because so many kids are counting on you, Splatoon.

Happy birthday!

Yours faithfully,

MD

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